The U.S. tort system costs our economy billions of dollars each
year. The growth of tort costs has exceeded the growth in GDP
by
2 to 3 percentage points over the past 50 years. This is
particularly important during an economic downturn when abusive
litigation and attempts to regulate through litigation result in
such high costs and liability that our economic recovery is
diminished or even reversed
In just one area alone, the huge increase in medical malpractice
insurance rates has contributed significantly to the problems in
our health care system, making it difficult for doctors to provide
care, encouraging the harmful practice of "defensive medicine," and
raising the costs of obtaining quality health care for
everyone. Our civil justice system can be protected,
improved, and made more efficient, while bringing greater fairness
and predictability to market participants and citizens
generally.

Governor Haley Barbour will relate his views and experiences in
a keynote address. One of his most notable achievements was
to lead the State of Mississippi to implement comprehensive tort
reform, restoring balance and fairness for plaintiffs and
defendants in the state's civil justice system, and encouraging
economic growth and development. Representative Bill
Batchelder and Dr. Lawrence J. McQuillan will discuss the economic
effects of abusive tort litigation and the advantages of state
reform. Rep. Batchelder was a key proponent of Ohio's passage
of tort reform, which was then thwarted by the Ohio courts.
Dr. McQuillan is the author of Jackpot Justice: The True Cost
of America's Tort System and the U.S. Tort Liability
Index, and co-author of U.S. Economic Freedom Index: 2004
Report.

More About the Speakers

Panel Discussion (11:00 a.m.)

The Honorable Bill BatchelderMinority Leader,
Ohio House of Representatives

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